Nowadays we will all have heard of someone who is addicted to adrenaline. People who practice adventure sports or expose themselves to high-risk situations in order to feel the energy boost caused by the adrenaline generated by danger.
Skydiving, bungee jumping, hang gliding, climbing… Most people who practice it seek intense experiences, but they are aware of the risks and take precautions so that the risk is controlled.
However, there is a condition in which the perception of danger is non-existent and the exposure to danger is no longer within the controllable limits. This is Pontius syndrome, which we are going to talk about throughout this article.
A rare and unusual alteration consisting of the loss of perception of danger and fear is called Pontius syndrome, which appears linked to an overproduction of adrenaline. This syndrome also implies a certain dependence on adrenaline as well as the acquisition of tolerance to it, which tends to involve habitual exposure to dangerous situations and the need to actively seek them out.
In this syndrome, a lack of control over behavior is observed as well as a compulsive need to resort to high-risk activities. The person looks for risky activities, which can endanger their survival, for the mere fact of feeling adrenaline. There is a lack of awareness of danger and the activities are carried out without the subject becoming emotionally disturbed, neither producing well-being but rather there tends to be a certain level of frustration, anger or constant discomfort that is alleviated by exposure to risk. .
Unlike people who like adrenaline and these types of activities, who even though they do these types of activities know the danger they are in, in the case of Pontius syndrome this factor does not exist: the subject will consider that the risk situation is safe and that there is no danger, having lost the sense of danger.
What are the causes of this affectation?
Pontius syndrome is not currently recognized by the medical or psychiatric community and knowledge about it is rather limited. However, neurological anomalies have been observed that seem to be the basis of the disorder,
The main problem that people with Pontius syndrome have is the presence of very high levels of adrenaline resulting from altered development of cranial nerves 5.2 and 6 (trigeminal and abducens), which are overdeveloped. Its hyperfunctioning and its connection with other brain nuclei affects the production of adrenaline, increasing compared to its normotypical values and causing addiction, tolerance and the need for strong experiences to feel good over time. and to emotional reactions, such as fear.
Although it is not a cause per se, the truth is that Pontius syndrome could be related to the presence of high levels of the personality trait called Openness to experience or Sensation seeking. It is not that someone with high levels of this trait has Pontius syndrome, but someone with the syndrome will be much more likely to have high scores. Likewise, someone with high sensation seeking is more likely to manifest similar behaviors if they become addicted to adrenaline.
Pontius syndrome can have repercussions in different areas. At the work level, the tendency to seek risks can lead to accidents, difficulties in dealing with tasks that may involve unnecessary or excessive risks, and even conflicts and fights with colleagues and superiors. It may also involve legal problems, such as the commission of small crimes (for example, being arrested for climbing a building without ropes) or the imposition of fines. At the social and family level there may also be difficulties depending on the risk levels assumed by the subject.
Beyond this, it must also be taken into account that the continued presence of high levels of adrenaline has an impact on the body in itself. The risk of heart problems if maintained for a long time, as well as hypertension and hyperglycemia, especially stands out. In addition to that can cause long-term restlessness, stress and anxiety, as well as sleep problems, blurred vision, irritability and nervousness
Possible treatment
Pontius syndrome has received very little attention and there are no specific treatments for it, although it is possible to use different types of treatment to try to reduce the symptoms.
At a psychological level, it is possible to first analyze thought patterns, beliefs and emotions and then use different procedures. On the one hand, it is possible to try to carry out cognitive restructuring to modify beliefs, cognitive biases and maladaptive behavior patterns.
This can help the subject establish cognitive control over their behavior. In turn, procedures similar to those used in the treatment of substance addictions can be applied. You can also work from exposure with response prevention to situations that would normally elicit risk behaviors.
At a medical or pharmacological level, it is possible to work to either reduce adrenaline levels or to surgically treat the alteration present in the aforementioned cranial nerves.
